Envelope



Feb. 21, 1939. v. J. SAWDON ENVELOPE Fil ed Jan. 50, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheetl Feb. 21, 1939.

v. J. SAWDON I 2,148,324

ENVELOPE Filed Jan. 50, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

new Jawdaw) Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to duplex envelopes of the kind in which there is a relatively small compartment which can be sealed, to enclose a letter, and a relatively large compartment which can be left unsealed after placing something therein, whereby the entire envelope is a unit and will be transmitted through the mails as such and delivered intact in accordance with any address placed thereon.

In certain respects, this invention is in the nature of an improvement on the envelope construction shown and described and claimed in prior Patent No. 2,004,733, granted June 11, 1935.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction whereby the indicator or signal flap, that is provided to insure opening of the smaller compartment, should the larger compartment be opened first, is associated with the flap or other closing means for the larger compartment, but is carried on the back or rear wall of the envelope and, in addition, to provide such a novel construction and arrangement that the said indicator or signal flap is an integral portion of the single blank from which the larger compartment is made.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efiiciency and desirability of a duplex enevelope of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is aperspective of a duplex envelope embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an inside plan view of the blank from which the larger compartment of said envelope is made.

Fig. 3 is an inside plan view of the smaller blank that forms the inside wall of the smaller compartment.

Fig. 4. is a perspective of one end of said envelope, showing the flap that is used for closing the mouth or entrance of the larger compartment.

Fig. 5 is a smilar view, but showing the said flap open.

Fig. 6 is a View simlair to Fig. 5, with the upper portion thereof shown broken away, and, in addition, showing the indicator or signal flap pulled out.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the said indicator or signal flap folded upon the Outer surface of the envelope, instead. of inside thereof.

Fig. 8 in an enlarged vertical section on line 8'-8 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 9-9 in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to different form of the invention.

Fig. 11 is an inside plan view of the blank from which the larger compartment of the envelope of Fig. 10 is formed.

Fig. 12 is a View similar to Fig. 10, showing 10 the closing flap of the smaller compartment in open position.

Fig. 13 is a perspective of one end of the en- Fig. 1, showing a 5' velope shown in Fig. 10, showing the closing flap for the larger compartment, and the indicator or signal flap associated therewith, in open position.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, with the upper portion thereof shown broken away for convenience of illustration, and showing the said indicator or signal flap folded upon the outer surface of the envelope.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged vertical section on line l5- l5 in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged horizontal section ch line |6--I6 in Fig. 14 of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the invention comprises a single blank formed as shown in Fig. 2, having a front wall section I, rear Wall flap sections 2 and 3, and an end flap section 4, together with a cut-out flap section 5 on the said front wall, a relatively large closing flap 6 for one end of the envelope, and a relatively small indicator or signal flap 1, integral with the flap 3, previously mentioned.

A smaller blank, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, comprises the wall section 8, having an upper flap 9 and end flaps Ill and II, and this smaller blank is inserted in place on the inner surface of the outer or front wall I of the'larger 40 blank, with its fiap 9 extending through, the opening formed by the flap 5, andthe latter is then pasted to the smaller blank and the flaps Ill and II are then pasted to the inner surface of the larger blank, whereby the flap 9 extends outwardly and downwardly upon the outer surface of the envelope, as indicated more clearly in Figs.

1 and 8 of the drawings. The flap 2 is folded to overlap and adhere to the flap 3, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and the flap 4 is folded over and pasted down upon the outer surface of the envelope, the outersurface of the flaps 2 and 3, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be seen that the signal flap I has a warning printed on both sides thereof, indicating that something is sealed in the smaller compartment, the flap 9 being pasted or glued to the outer surface of the envelope to close the entrance of the smaller compartment, after a letter has been placed therein. This flap 1 can be pushed into the mouth or entrance of the larger compartment, as indicated in Fig. of the drawings, or it can be folded over upon the outer surface of the flaps 2 and 3', as indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The flap 6, if the flap I is pushed inside of the envelope, can also be pushed into the mouth or entrance of the larger compartment, to leave the latter unsealed. If the fiap I is folded over against the outer surface of the envelope, as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings, then the flap 6 can be folded over and tied or otherwise fastened in place, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As shown in Fig. 5, the flap 2 is cut a little narrower than the flap 3, at the end of the envelope having the flap 6, and hence, when the two flaps 2 and 3 are folded together, the edge 12 of the flap 2, and the creased or folded edge l3 of the flap 1, are out of line, and the flap 1 is readily seen when any attempt is made to remove the contents of the larger compartment; and when this signal flap 1 is pulled out, it will be in full view, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Of course, when the larger compartment is sealed, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, with the signal flap 1 folded as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the opening of the flap 6 exposes the flap 1 and the latter then performs its function and warns the person opening the envelope that a letter is contained in the smaller compartment thereof, at the front of the envelope. Thus, the indicator or signal flap I is carried on the back or rear wall of the envelope, and, in addition, is integral with a portion of this wall.

In Figs. 10 to 16 of the drawings, the construction is similar to that previously described, but in'this case the signal flap I is integral with the plain or full width back wall section M of the blank shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. In addition, this blank has a wall section l5 integral therewith, adjacent the flap section I, that forms the outer wall of the smaller compartment, with an entrance l6 thereto, and with a flap I! for sealing this smaller compartment, which latter, in this form of the invention, is outside of the larger compartment, instead of inside thereof. Also, in this case, the end flap l8 of the larger compartment folds over upon the front of the envelope, as shown in Figs. 10 and 12 of the drawings. But the signal flap I is substantially the same as previously described, and folds either into the larger compartment, similar to the way in which it is folded in Fig. 5 of the drawings, or on the outside of the envelope, as shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings.

In both forms of the invention, therefore, a signal flap is provided which is integral with the blank from which the larger compartment is formed, which can be folded either into the larger compartment, or upon the outer surface of the envelope, and which will serve as a warning that a letter is in the smaller compartment, should the larger compartment be opened first. Also, in one form of the invention, as shown in Fig. 11, both walls of the smaller compartment are formed by the main blank from which the larger compartment is formed. In both forms of the invention, the flap 1 is merely intended to function as a signal and is not operative to close any compartment of the duplex envelope. In Figs. 10 to 16 of the drawings, the section [5 forms a part of the front wall of the envelope, and the section is of the blank shown in Fig. 11 constitutes means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment for one class of mail; and in both forms of the invention, the signal flap 1 is associated with the relatively large flap 6 that is employed in both forms of the invention, and that is used for closing the mouth or entrance of the larger compartment, leaving the latter unsealed.

It is obvious, of course, that the duplex envelope shown and described can be used in different ways. Ordinarily, the smaller compartment would be used for one class of mail matter, such as a letter or other first-class mail, while the larger compartment would be used for catalogs, printed matter, and other things that can go seeond-class, or even third or fourth-class if desired. However, there is nothing to prevent the use of the smaller compartment for second or other lower class mail, if such is desirable, and for that purpose the flap 9 and the flap I! can be left unsealed, and the postage on the envelope can be in accordance with the contents thereof. Again, should it be desired, the larger compartment could be used for any class of mail matter, for if it is desired to seal the larger compartment, it is obvious that any ordinary expedient therefor can be used, such as sealing wax on the ordinary button and string closure for the flap 6 in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. However, in any event, and regardless of what is contained in the relatively large and small compartments of the envelope, and regardless of which form of the invention is employed, it is nevertheless true that indicating means are carried by the back or rear wall of the envelope and associated with and rendered operative by the opening of the larger compartment to warn the person opening the envelope that mail matter of some kind is contained in the smaller compartment, said indicating means being inoperative to close either compartment, or any compartment, of the duplex envelope thus shown and described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a duplex envelope having front and rear walls, the combination of means including front and rear walls forming relatively large and small compartments, the smaller compartment having means whereby it is adapted to contain one class of mail, and the larger compartment having means whereby it is adapted to contain another class of mail, and indicating means carried by the back or rear wall of the envelope and associated with and rendered operative by the opening of the larger compartment to warn the person opening the envelope that mail matter is contained in the smaller compartment, said indicating means being inoperative to close any compartment of the envelope.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said indicating means comprising a flap that is an integral portion of a blank from which the larger compartment is formed.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said indicating means comprising a flap that is an integral portion of some flaps that are secured together to form the back or rear wall of the envelope.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said indicating means comprising a flap that is an integral potrion of a seamless section that forms the entire back or rear wall of the larger compartment.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said smaller compartment being formed on the exterior of the front of the larger compartment, and the outer wall of the smaller compartment being an integral portion of a single blank from which both compartments are formed.

6. In a duplex envelope having front and rear walls, the combination of means including front and rear walls forming relatively large and small compartments, the smaller compartment having means whereby it is adapted to contain one class of mail, and the larger compartment having means whereby it is adapted to contain another class of mail, and indicating means integral with ablank from which the larger compartment is formed and rendered operative by the opening of the larger compartment to warn the person opening the envelope that a difierent class of mail is contained in the smaller compartment, said indicating means being inoperative to close any compartment of the envelope.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6, said indicating means comprising a flap carried on the back or rear wall of the larger compartment, at the mouth or entrance of the latter.

8. In a duplex envelope, means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment adapted for one class of mail, means including rear flaps folded and fastened together and forming behind said front wall and smaller compartment a larger compartment adapted for another class of mail, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed, together with means comprising a flap for closing one edge of the larger compartment, means on the front of the envelope to admit mail matter into said smaller compartment, adapted for closing this entrance to the smaller compartment, in combination with a signal device carried by the back or rear wall of the envelope and associated with and movable relatively to said flap to indicate the presence of and the necessity for opening the smaller compartment in the event that the larger compartment is opened first, said device being inoperative to close any compartment of the envelope.

9. A structure as specified in claim 8, said signal device comprising a foldable portion integral with one edge of one of the overlapping flaps forming the back or rear wall of the envelope.

10. A structure as specified in claim 8, said means forming the smaller compartment being formed by a separate blank secured to the inner surface of the front wall of the envelope.

11. In a duplex envelope, a pair of compartments, one for containing first class mail and the other lower class mail, the lower class compartment being open along one entire edge of the envelope, a flap provided on one wall of the envelope foldable in one direction for closing said large compartment, and a flap provided on the opposite wall of the envelope foldable in the opposite direction and positioned and shaped to embrace the enclosure in the large compartment and tobe pulled out upon the removal of said enclosure, the last said flap having indicia on at least one of its surfaces directing attention to the contents of the first class compartment.

12. In a duplex envelope, means fixed on the inside of the front wall of the envelope and forming therewith a relatively small compartment adapted for one class of mail, means including rear flaps folded and fastened together and forming behind said front wall and smaller compartment a larger compartment adapted for another class of mail, the smaller compartment being adapted to be sealed, together with means comprising a lfap for closing one edge of the larger compartment, means on the front of the envelope to admit mail matter into said smaller compartment, adapted for closing this entrance to the smaller compartment, in combination with a. signal device carried by the back or rear wall of the envelope and associated with and movable relatively to said flap to indicate the presence of and the necessity for opening the smaller compartment in the event that the larger compartment is opened first.

VICTOR J. SAWDON. 

